Why Smart Group keeps outperforming Eclipx

Why Smart Group keeps outperforming Eclipx

The contrasting fortunes of fleet management businesses, Smart Group and Eclipx, highlight yet again the importance of making good corporate acquisitions.

The major players in the Australian fleet management sector comprising McMillan Shakespeare (ASX: MMS), Smart Group (ASX: SIQ), SG Fleet (ASX: SGF) and Eclipx (ASX: ECX) certainly have contrasting trajectories. On May 9, Smart Group had their AGM and on Monday the Eclipx CEO, Doc Klotz, resigned effective immediately.

First to Smart Group. The highly regarded Michael Carapiet is the Chairman, and in his address the company recorded improved 2018 results (normalised Net Profit after Tax up 22 per cent to $78 million on an 18 per cent boost in Revenue to $242 million; earnings per share (EPS) of 59.5 cents; dividend per share (DPS) of 40.5 cents) which was attributable to “innovation, customer service and integration of our previous acquisitions.

“Due to our diversification, we can now offer a broad range of products and services which we anticipate will improve their experience and deepen our relations with them.” Smart Group services 343,000 salary packaging customers (+6 per cent), has 62,500 novated leases under management (+4 per cent) and 695 full-time equivalent staff (-4 per cent).

Smart Group has a good track record of acquisitions and Fleet West, purchased in January 2018, added 2,800 to the fleet vehicle under management, or 12 per cent of the total 22,900. In early May 2019, Smart Group paid $9.1 million for the two small acquisitions and these are expected to deliver $0.7 million of EBITDA in 2019 (for eight months), inclusive of $0.7 million of integration costs. In 2020, they are expected to deliver $3.0 million of EBITDA.

By contrastEclipx have reshuffled the management deck chairs. Garry McLennan, CFO for the past five years, has recently resigned and CEO Doc Klotz is being replaced by UBS Australia banker Julian Russell. Total statutory remuneration for McLennan and Klotz over the two years to 30 September 2018 was $6.8 million. Meanwhile, Bevan Guest was promoted from MD, Fleet Australia to the newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer.

When it announces its interim results for the six months to March 2019 on 24 May, Eclipx is expected to recognise an impairment charge of between $110 million and $130 million. This relates to the underperformance of Grays and Right2Drive and is subject to audit. In 2016 and 2017 Eclipx spent a combined $246 million acquiring these two businesses. Both businesses are now being prepared for sale and the company also intends selling its Australian Commercial Equipment Financing business. Julian Russell, who has been an adviser to the company since 2014, said “the divestment of non-core businesses… will result in a resized cost base to reflect a simpler business model.”

The graph below shows the relative share price performance of Smart Group and Eclipx over the past three years.

With a current market capitalisation of $307 million (320 million shares x $0.92), Eclipx may represent good value if their core businesses of “Australian Commercial” and “New Zealand Commercial” remain intact, as they historically have had an ability to earn a normalised $50 million of profit or 15.5 cents per share.

Chief Executive Officer of Montgomery Investment Management, David has over 30 years of industry experience.
David is a deeply knowledgeable and highly experienced financial services executive. Prior to joining Montgomery in 2012, David was CEO and Executive Director of Hunter Hall for 11 years, as well as a Director at JP Morgan in Sydney and London for eight years.

This post was contributed by a representative of Montgomery Investment Management Pty Limited (AFSL No. 354564). The principal purpose of this post is to provide factual information and not provide financial product advice. Additionally, the information provided is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion about any financial product. Any commentary and statements of opinion however may contain general advice only that is prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances or needs. Because of this, before acting on any of the information provided, you should always consider its appropriateness in light of your personal objectives, financial circumstances and needs and should consider seeking independent advice from a financial advisor if necessary before making any decisions. This post specifically excludes personal advice.

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2 Comments

Hello David: Smart group seems a well run business, and I profited nicely from it in past years. However I exited both it and SG Fleet a year ago, as I sensed a looming victory for Labour, and hence increased risk, with a party in government who has tried previously to end what they see as a rort of taxpayer funds by a privileged few (salary packaging and novated leases). Smart group has become considerably cheaper since I sold them, possibly because the market has sensed this same risk. Do you agree there is such risk with SIG and other firms in this industry?

Hi David,I remember the last “crash” in the industry well; August 2013 and another Kevin Rudd thought bubble (during his second short stint as PM). The MMS share price halved from $18 and Montgomery Investment Management took advantage of the (temporary) weakness. Then there was the discovery that a large proportion of the salary package and novated lease recipients were “everyday Australians”. While both major parties have run a fairly disciplined and boring election campaign, all Governments try and close loopholes around tax laws. It will be interesting to watch and I understand the markets’ caution.

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